About the HiSET® Exam
Aligned to new college-and-career readiness standards for adults, the HiSET® exam certifies that candidates’ academic knowledge and skills are equivalent to those of high school graduates. Affordable and accessible, the HiSET exam is changing the lives of the people who take it. Learn more about the fastest-growing exam on the market and how it can benefit your test takers and students.
Before You Schedule an Appointment
Step #1: Create a HiSET Account
- Visit ets.org to create a HiSET account
- After registering online please obtain your HiSET account number (ETS ID #)
Step #2- Schedule an Appointment
- When you are ready to take the exam please contact Taft College Testing Center to schedule an appointment
- You can make appointments by:
Telephone: (661) 763-7962
Email: tctestingcenter@taftcollege.edu
In Person
- An appointment can be scheduled during normal hours of operation. These are listed below:
- Fall & Spring
- Monday & Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday & Wednesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: CLOSED
- Summer
- Monday – Thursday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday – Sunday: CLOSED
- Fall & Spring
**No same day appointments available
**Hours subject to change during holidays, breaks, and in-service. Please call the testing center for more information.
Step#3- Day of the Test
- Bring in your valid ID with picture
- Bring your ETS ID #
- The Testing Center will provide all other materials
- No children allowed while testing
- Please be at least 10 minutes early to complete necessary paper work
- If you are unable to attend your appointment please contact the Testing Center
Step #4- Results
- All results are provided at ets.org
- Please allow 2-3 weeks to receive your results
- When you pass all 5 sub-tests, certificates will be mailed out in one-two weeks
Step #5 Payment
- A full battery (5 exams) is $125
- Individual subtests are $25
- Re-takes are $15 (Each candidate has three attempts for each subtest, each calendar year)
- It is recommended all exams be paid for prior to exams. However, If payment is not made, test will not be mailed for scoring until exams are paid for
HiSET® Test Content
The HiSET® exam measures proficiency in five core subject areas:
- Language Arts – Reading
- Language Arts – Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Descriptions and detailed information on each of these five content areas, including a sample question for each, can be found in the Test At A Glance Document (PDF).
The chart below details content coverage for the HiSET exam, what each section will measure and what test takers must do to demonstrate their proficiency in the targeted knowledge and skill areas.
| Content Area | Knowledge and Skills Tested | Test Features | Evidence of Proficiency |
| Language Arts – Reading | Application of concepts, analysis, synthesis and evaluation involving:
|
Reading passages with accompanying questions
Format: Multiple choice Time: 65 minutes |
Test takers draw conclusions, deduce meanings, infer relationships, make predictions, determine the main idea or theme, identify major points and make generalizations. |
| Language Arts – Writing | Proficiency in persuasive and informative writing; analysis, synthesis and evaluation of:
|
Essay prompts and writing samples with accompanying questions
Format: Multiple Choice and essay Time: 120 minutes |
Test takers recognize correct and effective use of standard English in the context of a variety of written materials and are asked to make revisions. Test takers create written responses that are evaluated for development of ideas, organization of ideas, language facility and conventions. |
| Mathematics | Application of concepts, analysis, synthesis and evaluation involving:
|
Stimulus-based materials and discrete items
Format: multiple choice Time: 90 minutes |
Test takers demonstrate understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures, make inferences or predictions based on data or information, interpret data from a variety of sources, reason quantitatively and evaluate reasonableness of solutions. |
| Science | Application of concepts, analysis, synthesis and evaluation involving:
|
Stimulus materials present investigations and research studies. Graphs, tables and charts present experimental results.
Format: Multiple choice Time: 80 minutes |
Test takers demonstrate their ability to use science content knowledge, to apply principles of scientific inquiry, and to interpret and evaluate scientific information. |
| Social Studies | Application of concepts, analysis, synthesis and evaluation involving:
|
Test takers analyze and evaluate social studies information. Primary source documents, timelines, maps, graphs, tables and reading passages are used to present information.
Format: multiple choice Time: 70 minutes |
Test takers demonstrate their ability to analyze and evaluate various kinds of social studies information. |
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Testing Center at phone number 661-763-7783 or for more information go to the HiSET website.